Scottish whisky broker and award winning independent bottler Cask 88 has recently opened bidding on their first online whisky cask auction, featuring a selection of seven casks from coastal distilleries from the Orkney Islands to Islay. The list includes a specially curated list of premium Scottish whisky casks, ranging from relatively young casks, of just a few years old, to old and rare casks with a couple of decades behind them. Each of the casks in this first auction is from a distillery with a strong maritime connection, including: a well-aged spirit from Islay distillery Laphroaig; both a young and an older cask from Ben Nevis distillery, nestled between mountain and sea loch; and an Isle of Arran sherry puncheon of a comparable vintage to Cask 88’s recent Scottish Folklore series release, the Selkie: Arran 22 Year Old.

“Online cask auctions are a natural next step for Cask 88,” said Cask 88 Director, Patrick Costello. “We have been in the whisky cask market for many years and have seen demand for cask whisky grow enormously during that time. Clients buy for various reasons, including bespoke bottling, special gifts, or as an alternative investment. The auction market for whisky bottles has multiplied in size in recent years, and we see an emerging marketplace for whisky casks following suit.

“We’re acutely aware of what differentiates the cask market from the bottle market and are very careful about what products are sold through this platform, with an aim to protect strict supply chains. We only list casks from private individuals, with careful consultation with the seller and lots are always publicly visible on our website. We’re proud to offer a platform for private owners to sell their casks, giving them an up-to-the-minute path to market, while opening the door to cask ownership to a far wider group of whisky enthusiasts across the globe.

“It’s not just die-hard whisky enthusiasts, or wealthy individuals, who are purchasing whisky casks these days. Savvy investors are looking to diversify their portfolios with a product that has experienced spectacular recent returns, and whisky enthusiasts are discovering a way to get closer to the industry that they love.”

Potential bidders will need to register before they can view active auctions and receive authorisation to bid. The final hammer price includes the cost of the cask alone, and once they have made their purchase, buyers will be eligible for the same level of service as provided to all clients of Cask 88. Support is offered throughout the period of cask ownership, including secure warehousing. Casks are stored in a bonded warehouse in Scotland, and after purchase, clients are welcome to visit their cask and to have samples delivered to them. If clients choose to bottle the cask down the line, Cask 88 offer packaging and labelling design services and support clients throughout bottling and export of the final product.